Play ‘Tamil thai Vazhthu’ at all events, Tamil Nadu govt tells IIT-Madras – Times of India

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu higher education minister K Ponmudy has written to IIT-Madras director Bhaskar Ramamurthi asking him to ensure that ‘Tamil thai vazhthu’, the state invocation song, is sung at all the functions of the institution including convocations. There was an issue over the anthem not being played at the recently held convocation.
“It is disheartening to learn that in the recently concluded convocation, the state invocation song was not sung, a deviation from a well-established protocol. I would like to point out that the invocation song is sung at all the state and Union government functions in Tamil Nadu including the functions where higher dignitaries like the President of India and the Prime Minister participate,” the minister said in his letter dated November 24.
IIT-Madras held its 58th convocation in virtual mode on November 20.
“As you are aware, IIT-Madras was established in 1959 on an extent of 250 hectares of land provided by the Tamil Nadu government. From that time onwards, the state government has been contributing through various means for the growth and development of the institution, and the present government is also very keen on continuing the same support,” Ponmudy wrote.